The Waynesboro man accused of killing three people — including his estranged wife — on July 27, 2012, in Quincy Township, is scheduled to plead guilty Friday, May 10, in Franklin County Court.
Kevin Cleeves, 36, who lived at 601 W. Main St., Apartment 2, at the time of the shooting, will plead guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and will receive three consecutive life sentences, according to Franklin County District Attorney Matthew Fogal.
Earlier in the legal proceedings, Cleeves had pleaded not guilty and Fogal had filed the paperwork to seek the death penalty.
“I have consulted extensively with the surviving family members and the Pennsylvania State Police before agreeing to the above sentence(s),” Fogal wrote in a news release. “I have considered many factors, not the least of which is the potential emotional trauma to be inflicted upon the innocent young girl who witnessed her mother’s murders, if she were to be called as a witness in a trial.”
Cleeves is accused of shooting his estranged wife, Brandi Killingsworth-Cleeves, 25, her boyfriend, Vincent L. “Luke” Santucci Jr., 29, and Santucci’s mother, Rosemary “Linda” Holma, 55, outside of Holma’s Quincy Township home just after 9 p.m. July 27.
He then fled with his 4-year-old daughter, Leia, and was arrested the next day in Austintown, Ohio.
He ‘messed up’
According to charging documents, Kevin Cleeves told police he “messed up” when he went to Holma’s home to confront his estranged wife regarding custody arrangements for Leia. When he arrived at the Anthony Highway home, he first encountered Santucci, who had asked him to leave. Cleeves allegedly shot at Santucci, who was in a vehicle with Killingsworth-Cleeves and Leia. He then reportedly shot Killingsworth-Cleeves after she got out of the vehicle and Holma, who was running to her son’s aid.
Court filings indicate both Cleeves and Killingsworth-Cleeves were seeking custody of Leia.
Killingsworth-Cleeves told the court she left the couple’s home because of her husband’s alcohol use and arguments that sometimes turned physical. Kevin Cleeves countered he would provide a more stable living environment for their daughter, citing numerous times he was unable to reach his wife to arrange a meeting place for scheduled visits with Leia.